Improvement in car-couplings



G. 6. McCORMICK.

I Car-Couplings., No.157,999. Patented Dec.22,1874.

WHNEEEEE, INVENTJH.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFroE.

CHARLES C. MCCORMICK, OF MARLIN, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR'COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,999, dated December 22, 1874; application filed March 29, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C. G. MCCORMICK, of

Marlin, county of Falls and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings; and consists in the use of a rigid link, permanently secured V usual manner, and having a coiled or other suitable spring placed at their back ends, so as to ease the jar and concussion upon the cars coming together. Permanently secured to each head is a link, 0, having their rear ends bearing against a spring, 6, in order to prevent their being crushed and broken by the cars running together. The links are rigidly secured to the heads, so as to prevent their being stolen or accidentally lost. Pivoted in each head is a weighted lever, g, having a hinged plate, 'i, secured to their upper ends, which slide forward as soon as the pins are raised, so as to catch under their ends and hold them in an elevated position, ready to fall and bind the cars together as soon as the levers are pushed backward by the link of the other car. To each pin is attached a lever, Z,

by means of a chain, a, which is pivoted upon the top of the car, and which has a cord or chain, 0, fastened to its end, so that the coupling may be withdrawn at any desired distance by simply pulling upon the cord, and thus uncouple the entire train at once, if so desired. By means of these levers, placed upon the tops of the cars, the brakemen can couple and uncouple the cars without the slightest inconvenience or danger to themselves, and at a great saving of expense in time. By pressing down upon the levers until they catch in the holders m, the pins can be kept in an elem-ted position, or one of the heads can be uncoupled, leaving but a single link to bind the cars together, so that the brakeman can leave it at any desired place, at any moment. Bot-h heads carrying a fixed link, it is necessary to set both couplings at once, before the cars come together, and when they do couple, both pins falling at once, the cars are bound to gether by both links. Each coupling-pin a is kept in position by the guides c, secured to the top of the head a, and have a flange, i, formed upon their sides, so as to prevent them from being withdrawn and carried away or lost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp The combination, in a car-coupling, of the link 0, provided with the spring a, the pin a, guides c, and the weighted lever 9, provided with the hinged plate t', to operate substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 hereunto affix my signature this 28th day of March, 1873.

O. C. MoOORMIOK. Witnesses:

W. K. DUHAMEL, ALEX. DAVIDSON. 

